NAFDAC Seizes ₦170m Worth of Toxic Cosmetics, Shuts 10 Shops in Abuja Crackdown

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its clampdown on fake and harmful cosmetic products, confiscating unregistered and toxic items valued at over ₦170 million during an operation in Abuja.

The raid, which took place across multiple outlets in Wuse Market and Jabi District, led to the closure of eight cosmetic shops and two Chinese supermarkets found to be selling banned, expired, and unregistered cosmetic products, aphrodisiacs, and herbal medicines.

According to a statement issued by the Agency on Friday, some individuals at the sealed outlets were also caught posing as dermatologists and pharmacists, illegally prescribing and marketing unsafe skin and body enhancement products to unsuspecting customers.

Among the confiscated items were a range of dangerous cosmetics and supplements, including Wenicks Capsules, Maxman Capsules, Boobs Enlargement Creams, Curvy Weight Gain products, Skin Whitening Vitamin Gummies, Collagen, Royal Jelly, Glutathione Whitening Gummies, White Doll, Dr. Gallery Plus, Maiz Zaki Syrup, Herbal Yellow Fever Medicine, and Sickle Cell Herbal Syrup.

These products, NAFDAC warned, pose grave health risks such as kidney damage, hormonal imbalance, neurological disorders, and skin cancer.

Crackdown on Foreign Stores

In a parallel operation, the Agency also shut down two Chinese supermarkets located on Mike Akhigbe Way and Ebitu Ukiwe Street in Abuja’s Jabi District. The outlets were accused of selling unregistered food and cosmetic items labeled solely in Chinese, without English translations, a direct violation of Nigeria’s labelling and consumer protection regulations.

NAFDAC explained that the operation followed multiple consumer complaints and weeks of surveillance, which confirmed that the foreign-owned supermarkets were importing and selling regulated products without the Agency’s approval.

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The statement stressed that the absence of English labelling makes it impossible for consumers to understand product composition, dosage, or expiration details — a risk that could lead to poisoning or long-term health complications.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the crackdown as part of the Agency’s broader efforts to eliminate counterfeit, expired, and hazardous products from the Nigerian market. She reiterated that NAFDAC’s mandate is to ensure that only safe, properly registered, and well-labelled products reach consumers.

NAFDAC Reaffirms Commitment to Public Safety

Prof. Adeyeye warned that those involved in importing or distributing harmful and unregistered goods would face prosecution under existing laws, including possible imprisonment and permanent revocation of business licences.

She emphasised that the Agency’s surveillance and enforcement operations would continue nationwide, focusing not only on cosmetics but also on drugs, herbal mixtures, food supplements, and processed foods.
“Our ultimate goal,” she said, “is to safeguard the health of Nigerians and restore confidence in the safety of products available in the market.”

NAFDAC further appealed to consumers to be vigilant and report suspicious or unlabelled items to the nearest Agency office, noting that unsafe cosmetic products have become a growing public health concern in Nigeria’s informal markets.

The Agency also advised foreign investors and importers planning to market products in Nigeria to engage NAFDAC for proper registration and regulatory guidance before distribution.
“This is not to discourage trade,” the statement read, “but to ensure that business activities comply with national health and safety standards.”

The latest enforcement comes amid increasing reports of the misuse of cosmetic enhancement and whitening products in major cities such as Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt, a trend linked to rising cases of skin damage and internal organ failure.

Prof. Adeyeye reaffirmed that the Agency remains resolute in its mission to sanitize the Nigerian market and protect citizens from the dangers of toxic and counterfeit goods.